Water-purifying apparatus.



Pa'tented Dec. 2, |902.

L. GATHMANN. WATER P'URIFYING APPARATUS. (Appximion mea mmv, 190i.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 1,

(No Model.)

No. 7|4,`793. Patented nec. 2, 1902.'

L.,GATHMANN. u

WATER PumPvlNsLY APPARATUS.

(Application filed Mar. 7, 1901.) (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

TH: Nonrus ruins ou PuoToALn'nu wAsnmcfcm, o. c.

Patented Dec. .2, 1902.

L. BATMAN". WATER PURIFYING APPARATUS.

(Application med Mar. 7, 1901.; v

` 7 Sheets-Shabat 3..

(No Model.)

ma minis Perzng dol. mnrmqwo.. msmymwn', n, c.

-NoL 7|4,793. L. GATHMANN.

WATER PUBIFYING APPARATUS.

(Application led Mar. 7, 1901.1

Patented Dec. 2, i902.

(NoModel.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 4.'

me Nonms dans to4 suo'rumo, WASHINGTON. o. c.

(No Modeln- No. 7|4,79s. Patented use'. 2-, |902.

A LAGATHMANN.

wATER'PumFYmG APPARATUS.

(Application led Mar. f7, 1901.)

7 Sheds-Sheet 5.

w: Nonms Panni co.. Fuorammn.. wAsmNumN, o c,

Patented nec. 2, |902. L. GATHMANN. WATER PURIFYING APPARATUS,

(Application led Mar. *7, 1901.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 6,

(No `Illudel.)

' No. 714,793. Patented nec. 2, :902.

L. GATHMANN.`

WATER PUBIFYING APPARATUS. (Application filed Mar. 7, 1961.1

` (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 7,

UNITED STATES f ATENT Prion.

LOUIS GATHMANN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT COLUMBIA.

WATER-PURIFYING APPARATUS.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,793, dated December 2, 1902.

` Appiimionfuea March 7,1901. stanno. 50,264. cromati.)

T all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, LoUIs GATHMANN, a resident of Washington, in the District of Oo- `lumloia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-PurifyingApparams, of which the following is a specification.

is notonly simpleandcheap, but is at the same time capable of embodiment which avoids the use of movable parts; to provide a construction which is well adapted for embodiment in both small and large apparatusas, for example, for domestic purposes or for purifying the Water for entire cities; to provide a constructionin which the sediment collected continuously may be removed periodically at will and in a most convenient and eifective manner; to provide a construction the several elements of which may be readily disassociated or taken apart for the purposes of inspection, repair, or the like; to

provide a construction which is equally availstantly agitated, and thus more eectively aerated and theoxidation of impurities more thoroughly carried out, and in general to provide improved details of construction. contributing to the efficiency, durability, and

the base shown in axial section, of the apparatus, embodying one preferred form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the plane just above the inletpipes, as indicated by dotted line 2 2of Fig. l, and looking downwardly. Fig. 3 is a vertical or axial sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 3a is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken transversely through two adjacent guide-fiangcs, showing the riflie members secured thereto in side elevation. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional `view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 5 and looking downwardly, showing a modified embodiment of the invention in which the water-purifying passages extend through a straight main. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, a portion of the side wall being broken away to expose the internal arrangement of the several` passages. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the water-purifying passages as arranged within a curved main. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional View of the lower member of the water-passage of the modified embodiment of the invention, which is desirably formed of concrete or analogous material, with the riffles thereof-formed by the configuration of the surfaces. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the member shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a view, partly in longitudinal vertical section and partly in side elevation, showing both `the lower member shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and the superposed member `which cooperatesV therewith. Fig. 10 is a shown in the present instance constructed of three main members-namely, the upper and lower end members 16 17, respectively, and an intermediate member 18 conveniently made in the form of castings provided with union flanges 19 and bolted together by a plurality of throughbolts 20. Preferably and as shown in said figures the end walls 21 and 22 of the cylinder aremade outwardly convex or conical, each end wall being provided at its ,center with an outlet-aperture with which are' 'respectively connected eduction-pipes 23 24. At its upper end the chamber 15 is provided with one or more 'inletopenings (two in the present instance) with which are connected inlet-pipes 25, which are tangential or substantially tangential to the Icylindric side of the chamber, so as to impart an initial rotary or vortical action to the water as it is Vdischarged into the chamber. Around the interior of a portion of the` cylindric chamber-in the present instance that portion thereof which is formed by the central section 18-are arranged to extend a series of helically-disposed guide flanges or shelves'26, which divide the outer portions of the interior of the cylindric chamber into helical passages 26', extending from an open space 27, into which the inlet-pipes discharge, to a small space 28 at the opposite or lower end of the chamber. The radial width of these guide anges or shelves 26 is considerably less than the internal radius of the'chamber,'so as to formacentral well, within which are arranged a plurality of conical or funnel shaped partitions 29, arranged at intervals apart throughout the height of the said shelved portion of the chamber. It will be understood that the spiral passages formed between the guide-flanges are in open communication with the spaces between the seriesof conical partitions 29, so that when the apparatus is in use the entire interior' of the same will be filled with a' body of water. At their lower ends the spiral passages open or discharge into a lower annular chamber 28, which sur: rounds a central settling-chamber 30 and is divided therefrom by means of an annular vertical partition 3l. With the chamber 28 communicate one or moreeduction-pipes 32, which are provided and as shown in this instance are arranged tangentially, so as to facilitate the free escape of the water from said chamber. The progress of the water through the apparatus as thus constructed will be as follows: Entering the upper chamber 27` it will flow downwardly through the helical passages 26, andinasmuch as the conical partitions 29 practically separate the upper from the lower chambers of the apparatus 'the progressive flow of waterwill berentirel y through impurities axially of the several cones, and in order that the impurities thus collected may be continuously lwithdrawn from several claires cones the latter are providedwith central discharge-apertures 29. Such'of the impurities as are of lesser specific gravity than the water will, owing to this vortical actionktend to rise through the central part of the chamber andare drawn 0E through the upper eduction-pipe 23, while the impurities which are of greater specific gravity than the water will pass downwardly through the several conical apertures to the settling-chamber 30 at the bottom of the apparatus. It will be understood thatv the lower eduction-pipe 24 will not remain open continuously, but will only be opened lfrom time to time when it is necessary to flush out the collection of sediment.

I will next describe one of the most important features of the invention--namely, the means whereby advantage is taken of the tendency of impurities to lodge against obstructionsover which or past which the water is iiowing. This is effected by the provision of a series of riftles interposed in the passages, which are'constructed and arranged in the present vinstance as follows: In carrying out this feature of the invention I provide elongated projections or riffles,which are arranged to extend transversely through passages through which the water flows, and it is to be understood that these riffie members may be either supported so as to extend freely within the body of water or that they may be supported against any one or more of the walls of the passage so long as they provide an obstruction around which the water will be deiiected and against which the sediment will tend to lodge, and, further, an essential requisite is that these rifle members be arranged to extend transv'erely and obliquely with reference to the direction of the liow of water, so that the sediment and flocculent matter is not only arrested, but is also guided toward one end or the other? of the riffle member, as Will hereinafter more fully appear; Obviously these riffle members may take various forms, depending upon the manner in which they are supported, the character of the water-passage within which they are arranged, and the like; but in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, they are supported directly upon or between theguide flanges or shelves 26 and are as follows:

33 designates the several members of a series of rifde-plates, each consisting of a strip or'bar of suitable length to extend spirally across the full width of the guide-flange, as best indicated in Fig. 2,'and each, with the exception of the top one of each vertical series, provided at each end with a thickened spaceblockportion 34 of a thickness or vertical widthequalto the space between adjacent turns of the guide-danges. The main body portion of said riflie member is, however, of a thickness or vertical height equal to but a small proportion of the vertical depth of lthe IIC passage-say, for example, one-fourth of the latter-and the rear face or edge 35 of the body portion thereofconsidered with reference to portion of the impurities with which the water is charged. By reason, further, of the inclination of the riffle members to the direction of flow of 'the water there is a continuous now of the partially-arrested water and impurities in the angle in rear of the rife toward the most advanced end of the riiiie or in the direction of least resistance, which serves to prevent the impurities from lodging im movably against the rifle, but instead serves to guide them toward the said advanced end of the rifle member. It will `be obvious that the tendency of impurities to cohere or adhere will facilitate this action, and especially in the case of those impurities which are of a somewhatbrous or stringy nature and which therefore tend to lodge across the projecting edges of the rifde members. It will be further obvious that although any given particle or mass of impurity may not and probably will not be caught by any one riffle, so as to be carried throughout the full length of the latter and` discharged at the end thereof, yet each successive rifde will tend to carry the impurity farther and farthertoward the center of the apparatus, (the advanced ends of the rifdc members beingin the present instance located at the inner edges of the surface or guidefianges,)` so that finally the impurities will be discharged laterally out of the main stream those impurities which are of less specific gravity than the Water and which therefore tend to rise to the upper parts of the stream. For this reason in the construction shown the riffle-plates are arranged to project from the upper wall of the passage downwardly and from thelower wall of the passage upwardly, and for convenience of construction these series of alternate upper and lower riflles are arranged vertically above each other, although it will `loe obvious that the precise arrangement is not essential. When arranged as shown and described in the present instance, the rifIie members with their thickened. end portions form convenient supports for holding'the guide fianges or shelves suitably operation does not depend upon any peculiarity of the form or arrangement of 'thewaterpassage in itself, and I have therefore shown several modifications showing dierent applications of the same to differently-constructed apparatus.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, 36 36' designate the side walls of a conduit or water-main, and 37 the bottom wall thereof, these three sides being conveniently constructed of concrete or other suitable masonry. 38 designates as an entirety riffle members arranged to extend obliquely across said conduit, said riiiie members being in the present instance, and conveniently, arranged in vertical series one above another throughout the full height or depth of the condluit and held spaced apart by means of space-blocks 39, interposed between the end portions of the riiile members themselves. In the instance shown said rifde members 38 consisteach of a horizontal plate portion or main body 40 and upwardly and downwardly projecting rifde-flanges 41 42, respectively, which are located at points intermediate of the width of the plates. The space-blocks 39 rest within the angles formed between the front sides of the flanges 4l 42 and the rilile-plate. The inner surface of the side wall 36 is provided with a series of projections or vertical ribs 43, one for each series of riffle members, and the space-blocks 39, which serve to hold the rifde members separate at this side of the conduit,are provided with correspondingirecesses 44, adapted to receive said projections, so as to hold the riiile mem bers from movement longitudinally of the cond uit, while leaving them free to be lifted up vertically. The opposite side wall 36' is provided with a series of vertically-disposed supporting-bars 45, one for each series of riffles, these bars being convenientlyseated and anchored within. the side wall, as indicated clearlyin the sectional vievsr Fig. 4, and being provided at their inner edges with rearwardly-projecting flanges`46, inside of which are formed pockets or recesses 47, which extend vertically throughout the full height of the several series of riiies. Preferably and as shown herein the size of said recesses or pockets 47 is increased by recessing the inner surface of the wall some` what at points opposite the ilanges46. The riflie members are engaged with the su pporting-bar 45 by having their extreme end portions arranged to extend beyond the spaceblocks 39 sufficiently to engage the rear edges IOO IOS

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of the' flanges 46, while the said space-blocks are rigidly secured to the several rifde members and rest in engagement with the approximate surfaces of the anges 46, and thus serve to hold the riffle members against endwise movement. It will be observed that the conseveral riffle members, and it is to be understood that the impurities may be withdrawn with each settling recess or pocket 47 at in;`

tervals throughout the height of the latter through the side wall 36', the outer ends of each vertical series connecting with the riser 49, which in turn communicates at its lower end with the trunk or main 50. Preferably the main 50 will be divided into sections in cases where the purifying-conduit be of eX- tended length in order that these sections near the receiving end of the conduit, wherein the riffle members will obviously collect greater quantities of impurities, may be more frequently opened to Withdraw the accumulation. 'Each section of main 50 will be provided with a suitable controlling-valve 5l and discharge-pipe 52. of rifies may be and is shown in the present instance as formed in the surface ofthe bottom wall of the conduit, consisting simply of` upstanding steps or vertical riffle-faces 53, formed in the masonry itself and extending obliquely across the bottom parallel with the corresponding series of rifde members. operation of this apparatus will be entirely obvious from theforegoing description, taken in connection with the description of the operation of the first-described apparatus, and need not, therefore, be set forth in detail herein. It will, however, be understood that the direction of iiow of the water is in the direction of the arrow indicated on Fig. 4.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modification which is substantially like the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, with the exception that the conduit or main is in this instance curved, and the outer ends of the riflie members are seated within recesses 54, formed within the outer side wall 36 instead of being .held by projections, as in the previous instance. The construction of the apparatus is otherwise the same.

In Figs. 7, 8, and 9 I have shown still an-V other modication in which a single relatively shallow andwide conduit or water-passageis provided with riffles formed in the upper and lower inner surfaces of the walls of the conduit, this construction enabling me to dispensey with riffle members as independent elements of construction. In this instance 55 designates the bottom wall of theconduit, which may conveniently be of concrete or masonry yprovided with riffie-steps 56, constructed and arranged substantially as are the riftle-steps 53 of the construction The lowermost series The.

shown in Fig. 5. i 57 designates the top wall or cover ofthe conduit, which is provided upon its inner face with corresponding rifde projections 58, arranged opposite and parallel with the rifie projections 56. At the advanced ends ofthe riiile projections considered with reference to the direction of flow of the water are formed 'pockets or collecting-chambers 59, substantially like the chambers 47, hereinbefore described in connection with Fig. 4, theserecesses being formed in .part within the side wall 60 of the` conduit and in part by Vertical flange-bars 61. In this instance also each pocket is provided with a pair of outlet-pipes, as 62 63, one connected with the upper portion of the pocket and one with the lower portion thereof and each in turn communicating with a standpipe 64, which discharges into a main 65.v

In Fig. ll I have shown a construction which is substantially like that just described in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, with the exception that each riflie projection consists of two portions 66 67, arranged at opposite inclinations at opposite sides of the median line of the conduit. A construction of this kind is particularly suitable where it is desired vto employ very wide conduits and of comparative small depth, sucha construction of the riffles tending to equalize and distribute the flow of the liquid over the ent-ire bottom of the conduit and being also somewhat more effective in collecting the impurities, since the vlatter need only travel one-half the width of the conduit before reaching thev settling pockets or recesses. Obviously with a construction of thiskind it is necessary to provide discharge-mains, as 68, at each side, (one only 'being shown in the drawings,) which mains communicate with the several settling-pockets through pipes 69, as in the other constructions described.

In Fig. 12,1 have shown still another modication,which is in one respect very similar to that last`described--name1y, in its adaptability for relatively wide conduits. In this instance, however, the riffles, while of twopart construction, asindicated by 70 and 7l, and arranged at opposite angles of inclination, are so disposed as to direct the collected impuritiesto the center of the .conduit instead of toward the sides thereof. At the meeting points of each pair of riftles is pro'- vided a V-shaped settling-recess 72, in the present instance formed in part by a depression in the door of the conduit and in part by an upstanding Iiang'e or partition 7 3,which rises to the upper wall of the conduit. With the bottom of each recess or chamber 72 communicates a discharge-outlet 74, which communicates with a main 75 by means of suitable pipe-sections 76. (Indicated in dotted lines in the drawings.) The operation of .this construction will be entirely obvious and need not, therefore, be described, it being understood that the flow of water through the conduit will be in the direction of the arrow IIO IZO

struction may be widely modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the details of construction described herein except to the extent that the same are made the subject of specific claims.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a water-purifying apparatus, a Waterpassage, a riftle arranged transversely of and upon one of the walls of said passage and obliquely with reference to the direction of iiow of the water, and au eduction-passage into which the impurities collected by said riiiie are discharged.

2. In a water-purifying apparatus, a waterpassage, a riftle arranged transversely in said passage, and obliquely with reference to the fiow of the water therethrough and a settlingrecess at the end of the riftle into which the impurities collected by said rifiie are discharged.

3. In a water-purifying apparatus, a waterpassage, a riiiie arranged transversely in said passage, and obliquely with reference to the direction of the flow of the water therethrough, a recess at the end of the riftie into which the impurities collected by said riftle are discharged, and means for discharging the impurities from the recess periodically.

4. -In a water-purifying apparatus, a waterpassage, and a plurality of rflies arranged transversely in said passage and obliquely with reference to the direction of flow of the Water, part of said riies projecting downwardly from the upper walls of said conduit, and partprojecting upwardly from the lower Walls thereof, and a, recess or recesses into which the impurities collected by said riftles are discharged.

5. In a water-purifying apparatus, a waterpassage, a riftie member arranged to extend through said passage, obliquely with reference to the direction of flow of the water therethrough, and provided with upper and lower riftle` projections, and an intermediate current-dividing plate portion whereby the current of water is deflected around said riftle member upon both sides thereof, and a collecting-pocket at one end of said riffle member into which the impurities collected thereby are discharged. f

6. In a water-purifying apparatus, a curved water-passage and a plurality of riftles arranged transversely in said passage and obliquely with reference to the direction of flow of the water.

7. In a water-purifying apparatus, a curved water passage or conduit, a series ofriftle inembers arranged therein to extend transversely thereof and obliquely with reference to the length of the conduit, the advanced ends ot' said riftle members being located at that side of the conduit toward the center of the circle or curvature of the conduit, and one or more settling-chambers located contiguous to the said advanced ends of the riffle members and into which the latter discharge.

8. In a water-purifying apparatus, a curved water passage or conduit, a series of riiie members arranged therein to extend transversely thereof and obliquely with reference to the length of the conduit, the advanced ends of said riftle members being located at that side of the conduit toward the center of the circle or curvature of the conduit, and one or more settling-chambers located contiguous to the said advanced ends of the riiie members and into which the latter discharge, and means for forcing water through said passage under pressure, whereby the vortical action of the current aids in discharging the impurities arrested hy the riflies.

9. In a water-purifying apparatus, the cornbination ofa closed cham ber having side Walls con centric to the vertical axis and a helicallydisposed guide-iiange arranged around the interior of said chamber, a series of riftles arranged to extend transversely of the passages formed between contiguous portions of said helical guide-flange, and means for discharging the impurities gathered by said riffles from the main body of Water passing through the apparatus.

IO. In a waterpurifying apparatus, the combination of a closed chamber having circular side walls, the eduction-passages communicating with the central portions of the ends thereof,a helically-disposed guide-flange arranged to extend around the circular side walls of said chamber, a series of riftles supported upon said guide-ange to extend transversely thereof and obliquely forwardly and inwardly with reference to the direction of fiow of water between passages formed by said guide-flange, and a conical partition separating the space circumscribed by the inner margin of said guide-flange, and provided with a central aperture as and for the purpose set forth.

ll. In a waterpurifying apparatus, the combination of a closed chamber, having circular side walls, the eduction-passages communicating with the central portions of the ends thereof,a helically-disposed guide-dange arranged to extend around the circular side walls of said chamber, a series of riflies supported upon said guide-flange to extend transversely thereof, and obliquely forwardly and inwardly with reference to the direction of flow of water between passages formed by said guide-ange, and a plurality of conical par-l titions separating spaces circumscribed by the IOO IIO

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inner margin of said guide-Hangs, and each provided with an aperture as and for the purpose set forth.

l2. In a water-purifying apparatus, the combination of a closed chamber having side walls concentric to the vertical axis, upper and lower eduction passages communicating with the central end portions of said chamber, and a. helically-disposed guideflange arranged to extend around the interior of the side wallsof said chamber, a series of rifiies arranged to extend transversely of said guide-Hange, a plurality of conical partitions separating the space between and circumscribed by the inner margins of said guideange, each provided with a central aperture,

a central settling-chamber located below the lowermost of said conical partitions, an annular outlet-chamber surrounding said settling-chamber, into which the body of water passing through the passages formed between said guide-flanges is discharged, one or more inlet-pipes communicating with lche upper part of said chamber, and discharging tangentially therein, and an outlet from the said annular chamber, substantially as described.

LOUIS GATHMANN.

Witnesses:

ALBERT I-I. GRAVES, L. S. BACON. 

